Display Device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a display portion, a front housing holding the display portion while pushing at least a part of an edge on the front side of the display portion, and a first bezel member made of metal, arranged inside the front housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.14/157,073, filed Jan. 16, 2014, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2013-020680, filed on Feb. 5, 2013, thedisclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device, and moreparticularly, it relates to a display device including a display portionand a front housing.

2. Description of the Background Art

A display device including a display portion and a front housing isknown in general, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No.2008-286860, for example.

The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-286860 disclosesa liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel(display portion) and a front housing made of metal, holding the liquidcrystal panel. In this liquid crystal display device described inJapanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-286860, the front housing has aframe portion formed in a frame shape along the outer edge of the liquidcrystal panel and a side surface portion folded rearward from the frameportion to form a side surface of a liquid crystal display device body.The outer edge (non-display area) of the liquid crystal panel is pushedthrough a cushion member coming into contact with the rear surface ofthe frame portion, whereby the liquid crystal panel is held at aprescribed position inside the body.

In the liquid crystal display device described in Japanese PatentLaying-Open No. 2008-286860, however, it is necessary to ensureprescribed rigidity (member strength) in the front housing whereas thewidth of the frame portion surrounding the outer edge of the liquidcrystal panel is reduced so that the width of a frame is reduced. Thus,the reduction in the width of the frame resulting from the reduction inthe width of the frame portion is limited. In other words, the width ofthe frame cannot be more efficiently reduced while the rigidity of theliquid crystal display device body is ensured by the front housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve theaforementioned problem, and an object of the present invention is toprovide a display device capable of further reducing the width of aframe while ensuring the rigidity of an apparatus body.

A display device according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes a display portion, a front housing holding the display portionwhile pushing at least a part of an edge on the front side of thedisplay portion, and a first bezel member made of metal, arranged insidethe front housing.

As hereinabove described, the display device according to the aspect ofthe present invention includes the front housing holding the displayportion while pushing at least the part of the edge on the front side ofthe display portion and the first bezel member made of metal, arrangedinside of the front housing, whereby the rigidity (member strength) of adisplay device body including the display portion can be maintained bythe first bezel member made of metal, constituted by a member differentfrom the front housing even in the case where the front housing holdsthe display portion while pushing at least the part of the edge on thefront side of the display portion. In other words, the rigidity of thedisplay device body is maintained by the first bezel member, and hencethe display portion can be held even in a state of ensuring a displayarea of the display portion as wide as possible. Thus, the width of aframe can be further reduced while the rigidity of the display devicebody is ensured.

The aforementioned display device according to the aspect preferablyfurther includes a supporting member configured to be capable ofsupporting the rear side of the display portion inside the fronthousing, and the display portion is preferably sandwiched and held bythe front housing and the supporting member from the front side and therear side in a state where the first bezel member is mounted on thesupporting member. According to this structure, the first bezel memberis mounted on the supporting member supporting the display portion fromthe rear side in the case where the edge on the front side of thedisplay portion is pushed, and hence the rigidity (member strength) ofthe supporting member can be easily improved. Therefore, the rigidity ofthe display device body in the display device having the display portionsandwiched and held by the front housing and the supporting member canbe easily ensured.

In the aforementioned structure further including the supporting member,the front housing preferably includes a frame portion formed in a frameshape without covering a display area of the display portion, and atleast the part of the edge on the front side of the display portion ispreferably pushed by the frame portion of the front housing and the rearside of the display portion corresponding to a position pushed by theframe portion is preferably supported by the supporting member in thestate where the first bezel member is mounted on the supporting member,so that the display portion is held by the front housing and thesupporting member. Thus, even in the case where the frame portion formedin the frame shape holds the display portion while pushing at least thepart of the edge on the front side of the display portion, the rigidityof the display device body is easily ensured by the first bezel member,and hence the width of the frame portion is reduced as much as possible,whereby a reduction in the width of the frame can be easily realized.

In the aforementioned structure in which the front housing includes theframe portion, the display portion is preferably formed to have arectangular shape by a pair of short-side portions extending in alongitudinal direction and a pair of long-side portions extending in atransverse direction, the first bezel member is preferably mounted on aportion of the supporting member supporting the rear side at a positioncorresponding to each of at least the short-side portions of the displayportion, and the edge corresponding to at least the short-side portionsof the display portion is preferably pushed by the frame portion of thefront housing and the rear side of the display portion corresponding tothe position pushed by the frame portion is preferably supported by thesupporting member, so that the display portion is held by the fronthousing and the supporting member. According to this structure, in thedisplay device including the horizontally long (rectangular) displayportion, the width of the frame on the sides of the short-side portions(both sides in the transverse direction) can be reduced while therigidity of the display device body is ensured. Therefore, thetransverse dimension (outer dimension) of the display device body can bereduced as much as possible while the transverse (long-side) dimensionof the display area in the display portion is maximized.

In the aforementioned structure in which the front housing includes theframe portion, the display device preferably further includes a firstelastic member arranged between the frame portion of the front housingand the edge on the front side of the display portion, the first bezelmember is preferably mounted on the supporting member in a regionopposed to the supporting member inside the front housing and outsidethe edge on the front side of the display portion, and the first elasticmember is preferably pushed by the frame portion of the front housingand comes into contact with at least the part of the edge on the frontside of the display portion, so that the display portion is held.According to this structure, the first elastic member is deformed due tothe pushing force of the frame portion and comes into close contact withthe edge on the front side of the display portion in a state where theframe portion formed in the frame shape holds the display portion, andhence the region opposed to the supporting member inside the fronthousing is shielded by a surface of the display portion and the firstelastic member and is not visible from the front side of the displayportion. In other words, the first bezel member mounted on thesupporting member in the region opposed to the supporting member insidethe front housing is not visible from the front side of the displayportion, and entry of extraneous material from the front side can besuppressed.

In the aforementioned structure further including the first elasticmember, the display device preferably further includes a second elasticmember arranged between the supporting member and the rear side of thedisplay portion corresponding to the position pushed by the frameportion, and the rear side of the display portion corresponding to theposition pushed by the frame portion is preferably supported by thesupporting member through the second elastic member, so that the displayportion is held. According to this structure, the front side and therear side of the display portion can be sandwiched and held by both thefirst and second elastic members, and hence the display portion can bereliably held. Consequently, the positional displacement of the displayportion can be suppressed, and hence a situation where a user must viewan inclined display image can be suppressed.

In the aforementioned structure further including the first elasticmember, the first bezel member preferably includes a fixed portioncoming into contact with the supporting member, fixed to the supportingmember and an extension portion formed to extend from the fixed portionup to the vicinity of a region where the first elastic member isarranged. According to this structure, the first bezel member isprovided with not only the fixed portion but also the extension portion,and hence the first bezel member arranged inside the front housing canbe formed to have larger rigidity (member strength). Furthermore, theextension portion provided on the first bezel member is formed to extendup to the vicinity of the region where the first elastic member isarranged, and hence external force (impulsive force) can be absorbed byfurther deformation of the first elastic member even in the case wherethe first elastic member is deformed due to the pushing force of theframe portion or sudden external force and comes into contact with theextension portion of the first bezel member. Thus, application of thesudden external force (impulsive force) to the first bezel member issuppressed, and hence distortion of the display device body can besuppressed.

In the aforementioned structure further including the supporting member,each of the first bezel member and the supporting member preferably hasa through-hole provided to fasten the first bezel member and thesupporting member to each other by a fastening member. According to thisstructure, the first bezel member and the supporting member can befastened together by the fastening member, and hence the first bezelmember can be reliably mounted on the supporting member. Consequently,the rigidity (member strength) of the supporting member can be reliablyimproved.

In this case, the display device preferably further includes a rearhousing, and each of the first bezel member and the supporting member ispreferably configured to be fastened to the rear housing by thefastening member through the through-hole. According to this structure,the first bezel member, the supporting member, and the rear housing canbe strongly fixed by the fastening member, and hence the rigidity of thedisplay device body can be easily ensured.

The aforementioned display device according the aspect preferablyfurther includes a second bezel member made of metal, arranged insidethe front housing, and the part of the edge on the front side of thedisplay portion is preferably pushed by the front housing and the edgeof the display portion other than the part pushed by the front housingis preferably pushed by the second bezel member, so that the displayportion is held by the front housing and the second bezel member.According to this structure, the width of the frame along the edge ofthe display portion held by the front housing can be actively reduced,and the second bezel member can push the edge of the display portion ofa portion requiring larger rigidity in the display device body and holdthe display portion while the rigidity of the portion requiring largerrigidity in the display device body is ensured by the second bezelmember. Therefore, the display device in which the width of the frame isactively reduced and the rigidity of the display device body is reliablyensured can be obtained.

In the aforementioned structure further including the second bezelmember made of metal, the first bezel member and the second bezel memberare preferably coupled to each other to form a frame-shaped bezelmember. According to this structure, the first bezel member and thesecond bezel member are coupled to each other as the single frame-shapedbezel member, and hence the rigidity of the bezel member constituted bythe coupled first and second bezel members can be further improved,unlike the case where the first bezel member and the second bezel memberare not coupled but mounted separately. Consequently, the rigidity ofthe display device body can be more reliably ensured, and the width ofthe frame can be more actively reduced.

In this case, the display portion is preferably formed to have arectangular shape by a pair of short-side portions extending in alongitudinal direction and a pair of long-side portions extending in atransverse direction, a pair of first bezel members are preferablyprovided, each of the pair of first bezel members is preferably arrangedat a position corresponding to each of the pair of short-side portionsof the display portion, a pair of second bezel members are preferablyprovided, each of the pair of second bezel members is preferablyarranged at a position corresponding to each of the pair of long-sideportions of the display portion, and the pair of first bezel members andthe pair of second bezel members preferably form the frame-shaped bezelmember surrounding the display portion. According to this structure, thepair of first bezel members and the pair of second bezel members formthe frame-shaped member surrounding the display portion incorrespondence to the display portion having the rectangular shape,whereby the edge of the display portion can be reliably pushed while therigidity of the bezel member is further improved.

In the aforementioned display device according to the aspect, the firstbezel member preferably includes a fixed portion coming into contactwith the supporting member, fixed to the supporting member and anextension portion having a bent portion that is bent, extending from thefixed portion toward the edge of the display portion pushed by the fronthousing. According to this structure, the extension portion has the bentportion that is bent, whereby the rigidity (member strength) of thefirst bezel member can be further improved, unlike the case where theextension portion is flatly formed.

In the aforementioned structure in which the first bezel member includesthe extension portion, the bent portion of the extension portion of thefirst bezel member is preferably formed by folding or hemming. Accordingto this structure, the bent portion of the extension portion is formedby folding or hemming, whereby not only the rigidity of the extensionportion but also the rigidity (member strength) of the entire firstbezel member can be further improved. Therefore, the first bezel membercan be formed with less metal material in the case where the first bezelmember is formed to ensure prescribed rigidity, and hence the weight(thickness) of the first bezel member can be reduced.

In the aforementioned structure in which the first bezel member includesthe extension portion, the first bezel member preferably furtherincludes a side surface portion extending from an outer edge of thefixed portion opposite to the extension portion along a direction fromthe front side of the display portion toward the rear side of thedisplay portion. According to this structure, the first bezel member isprovided with the side surface portion in addition to the extensionportion having the bent portion, whereby the rigidity (member strength)of the first bezel member can be further improved.

In the aforementioned structure in which the first bezel member includesthe extension portion, the display device preferably further includes awiring portion configured to connect the display portion to a controlboard, and the extension portion of the first bezel member is preferablyformed such that at least a part of the extension portion covers thewiring portion. According to this structure, the wiring portion can beprotected by the extension portion of the first bezel member made ofmetal when electrostatic discharge is generated, and hence malfunctionor damage of the wiring portion and the control board connected to thewiring portion resulting from the electrostatic discharge can besuppressed.

In this case, the extension portion of the first bezel member ispreferably arranged to cover the wiring portion from the front side ofthe display portion. According to this structure, the wiring portion canbe protected by the extension portion of the first bezel member made ofmetal on the front side of the display portion where the electrostaticdischarge is easily generated, and hence malfunction or damage of thewiring portion and the control board connected to the wiring portionresulting from the electrostatic discharge can be reliably suppressed.

In the aforementioned structure further including the supporting member,the supporting member is preferably formed with a supporting member sidecontact portion protruding toward the display portion, coming intocontact with the first bezel member. According to this structure, thesupporting member side contact portion coming into contact with thefirst bezel member can suppress the movement of the first bezel member,and hence backlash of the first bezel member can be suppressed.

In this case, the front housing is preferably formed with a fronthousing side contact portion protruding inward from the inner surface ofthe front housing, coming into contact with a surface of the first bezelmember opposite to a surface of the first bezel member coming intocontact with the supporting member side contact portion, and thesupporting member side contact portion and the front housing sidecontact portion are preferably arranged to be opposed to each other.According to this structure, the first bezel member can be sandwiched bythe supporting member side contact portion and the front housing sidecontact portion from both sides, and hence the movement of the firstbezel member can be more reliably suppressed. Thus, backlash of thefirst bezel member can be further suppressed.

In the aforementioned structure further including the supporting member,the front housing and the supporting member are preferably made ofresin. According to this structure, the front housing and the supportingmember can be easily molded, and the weight of the display device bodycan be reduced as compared with the case where the front housing is madeof metal. In the case where the front housing is made of resin, it ismore difficult to reduce the width of the frame while the rigidity isensured, unlike the case where the front housing is made of metal. Inthis case, the first bezel member made of metal is provided, whereby thewidth of the frame can be reduced while the rigidity of the displaydevice body is ensured, and hence the present invention is particularlyeffective.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a liquidcrystal television apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of anapparatus body of the liquid crystal television apparatus according tothe embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a structure of holding a liquidcrystal panel as viewed along the short-side direction (direction Y) ofthe liquid crystal panel when the apparatus body is assembled in theliquid crystal television apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of holding the liquidcrystal panel as viewed along the short-side direction (direction Y) ofthe liquid crystal panel in the liquid crystal television apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view at a different position from FIG. 4 showingthe structure of holding the liquid crystal panel as viewed along theshort-side direction (direction Y) of the liquid crystal panel in theliquid crystal television apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of holding the liquidcrystal panel as viewed along the long-side direction (direction X) ofthe liquid crystal panel in the liquid crystal television apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a structure of holding a liquidcrystal panel as viewed along the short-side direction (direction Y) ofthe liquid crystal panel in a liquid crystal television apparatusaccording to a first modification of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a structure of holding a liquidcrystal panel as viewed along the short-side direction (direction Y) ofthe liquid crystal panel in a liquid crystal television apparatusaccording to a second modification of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings.

The structure of a liquid crystal television apparatus 100 according tothe embodiment of the present invention is now described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 6. The liquid crystal television apparatus 100 is anexample of the “display device” in the present invention.

The liquid crystal television apparatus 100 according to the embodimentof the present invention includes an apparatus body 10 with a built-inliquid crystal panel 20 and a stand 50 supporting the apparatus body 10from below (Y2 side) in a state where the liquid crystal panel 20 isstood, as shown in FIG. 1. A Z1 side is the front side of the apparatusbody 10, and a Z2 side is the rear side (back side) of the apparatusbody 10. The liquid crystal panel 20 is an example of the “displayportion” in the present invention.

The liquid crystal television apparatus 100 includes a front housing(front cabinet) 11 made of resin and a rear housing (rear cabinet) 12made of resin. Specifically, the front housing 11 is fitted into therear housing 12 while enclosing an edge 20 a (see FIG. 2) of the liquidcrystal panel 20 from the Z1 side (front side) in a state where the rearhousing 12 is arranged on the Z2 side (rear side) of the liquid crystalpanel 20, whereby the liquid crystal panel 20 is internally held(stored). The liquid crystal panel 20 is formed to have a rectangularshape constituted by a pair of short-side portions 20 b extending in alongitudinal direction (direction Y) and a pair of long-side portions 20c extending in a transverse direction (direction X), as shown in FIG. 2.The liquid crystal panel 20 has a display area 20 d on which a picture(image) is displayed inside the peripheral (rectangular frame-shaped)edge 20 a (see FIG. 2).

The liquid crystal panel 20 includes a liquid crystal cell 21 (see FIG.3) having a structure of holding a liquid crystal layer between an arraysubstrate and a color filter substrate and a protective film 22 (seeFIG. 3) applied onto the substantially entire surface of the liquidcrystal cell 21 on the front side. As shown in FIG. 2, a flexibleprinted circuit board (FPC) 40 is connected to the liquid crystal cell21 at the edge 20 a corresponding to a short-side portion 20 b on an X1side of the liquid crystal panel 20. The FPC 40 is connected to acontrol board portion 41 configured to drive the liquid crystal cell 21.The flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 40 is an example of the “wiringportion” in the present invention.

The front housing (front cabinet) 11 is configured to surround theliquid crystal panel 20 formed in a rectangular shape by a pair of sideportions 11 a extending parallel to each other along the longitudinaldirection (direction Y) and a pair of side portions 11 b extendingparallel to each other along the transverse direction (direction X). Theside portions 11 b in the direction X are longer than the side portions11 a in the direction Y. The front housing 11 is a resin molded articlehaving an integral structure including a peripheral (rectangularframe-shaped) frame portion 11 c including these four side portions (thepair of side portions 11 a and the pair of side portions 11 b) and aframe-shaped side surface portion 11 d extending rearward (along arrowZ2) from the outer edge of the frame portion 11 c. The display area 20 dof the liquid crystal panel 20 is not covered but exposed to the frontside (Z1 side) by a rectangular opening 11 e formed on the innerperipheral side of the frame portion 11 c.

The liquid crystal television apparatus 100 includes an edge light typebacklight portion 30, as shown in FIG. 2. The backlight portion 30includes an LED substrate 32 mounted with a plurality of LEDs 31 (seeFIG. 4) in a line in the direction Y, extending in the form of a stripin the direction Y, a radiator plate (heat sink) 33 made of sheet metal,configured to radiate heat of the LED substrate 32, and a light guideplate 34 made of transparent acrylic resin having translucency. Thebacklight portion 30 further includes a reflective plate 35 arranged onthe rear side (Z2 side) of the light guide plate 34, reflecting lightemitted from the LEDs 31 to the front side (Z1 side), optical sheets(light diffusion sheets) 36 stacked with a multi-layer (three-layer)structure on the front side (Z1 side) of the light guide plate 34, and aspacer member 37 configured to ensure a prescribed space on the backside of the reflective plate 35 (light guide plate 34).

Thus, the backlight portion 30 is arranged between the rear side (Z2side) of the liquid crystal panel 20 and a back surface portion 12 a ofthe rear housing (rear cabinet) 12 in a state where the reflective plate35, the light guide plate 34, and the three optical sheets 36 arestacked in this order on the radiator plate 33 through the spacer member37, as shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of boss portions 12 b (see FIG. 2)protruding toward the front side (Z1 side) are provided on the backsurface portion 12 a of the rear housing 12 by resin molding. Theradiator plate 33 is mounted on the boss portions 12 b by screw members91 (see FIG. 2). Thus, a space is formed between the radiator plate 33and the back surface portion 12 a of the rear housing 12, as shown inFIG. 3, and the radiator plate 33 properly radiates heat.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal television apparatus100 includes a frame member (mold frame) 13 made of resin, a pair ofbezel members 14 made of metal, and a pair of bezel members 15 made ofmetal, as shown in FIG. 2. The liquid crystal panel 20 is configured tobe held inside the apparatus body 10 by combining two methods shown inFIGS. 3 to 6, using the front housing 11, the frame member 13, the bezelmembers 14, and the bezel members 15. In this case, the structure ofholding the liquid crystal panel 20 on the short-side portions 20 b ofthe liquid crystal panel 20 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is differentiated fromthe structure of holding the liquid crystal panel 20 on the long-sideportions 20 c of the liquid crystal panel 20 shown in FIG. 6. This pointis hereinafter described in detail. The frame member 13 is an example ofthe “supporting member” in the present invention. The bezel members 14and the bezel members 15 are examples of the “first bezel member” andthe “second bezel member” in the present invention, respectively.

As the structure common in FIGS. 3 to 6, the frame member (mold frame)13 has a frame shape surrounding the liquid crystal panel 20, similarlyto the front housing 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame member 13 has apair of short-side frame portions 13 a extending along the direction Y(longitudinal direction) and a pair of long-side frame portions 13 bextending along the direction X (transverse direction) integrally formedby resin molding. Therefore, FIGS. 3 to 5 show the sectional structureof the apparatus body 10 in the case where the liquid crystal panel 20is viewed in the extensional direction (direction Y) of the short-sideportions 20 b (see FIG. 2), and FIG. 6 shows the sectional structure ofthe apparatus body 10 in the case where the liquid crystal panel 20 isviewed in the extensional direction (direction X) of the long-sideportions 20 c (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 3, the frame member 13 (the short-side frame portion 13a in this case) includes a supporting portion 13 c supporting the edge20 a corresponding to the short-side portion 20 b (see FIG. 2) of theliquid crystal panel 20 from the rear side (Z2 side) and a fixingportion 13 d extending outward (along arrow X2) from the supportingportion 13 c beyond the edge 20 a. The edge 20 a denotes a region of theliquid crystal panel 20 excluding the display area 20 d. The edge 20 aincludes a portion slightly inside (on a side closer to the display area20 d) the edge in addition to the entire edge of the liquid crystalpanel 20. The fixing portion 13 d is formed with through-holes 13 e intowhich screw members 92 can be inserted. In this case, two through-holes13 e are formed in each of the short-side frame portions 13 a (see FIG.2) on X1 and X2 sides constituting the frame member 13, and fourthrough-holes 13 e are formed in each of the long-side frame portions 13b (see FIG. 2) on Y1 and Y2 sides constituting the frame member 13. Thescrew members 92 are examples of the “fastening member” in the presentinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a bezel member 14 includes a fixed portion 14a fixed to the fixing portion 13 d of the frame member 13 (short-sideframe portion 13 a) and an extension portion 14 b extending along arrowX1 from the fixed portion 14 a toward the edge 20 a corresponding to theshort-side portion 20 b of the liquid crystal panel 20. The fixedportion 14 a of the bezel member 14 is formed with through-holes 14 c(two through-holes 14 c in FIG. 2) into which the screw members 92 canbe inserted. The bezel member 14 further includes a side surface portion14 d extending rearward (along arrow Z2) from the outer edge of thefixed portion 14 a opposite (X2 side) to the extension portion 14 b. Theextension portion 14 b has a bent portion 14 e that is bent. Similarly,a bezel member 15 includes a fixed portion 15 a fixed to the fixingportion 13 d of the frame member 13 (long-side frame portion 13 b inthis case) and an extension portion 15 b extending along arrow Y2 fromthe fixed portion 15 a toward the edge 20 a corresponding to thelong-side portion 20 c of the liquid crystal panel 20, as shown in FIG.6. The fixed portion 15 a of the bezel member 15 is formed withthrough-holes 15 c (four through-holes 15 c in FIG. 2) into which thescrew members 92 can be inserted. The bezel member 15 further includes aside surface portion 15 d extending rearward (along arrow Z2) from theouter edge of the fixed portion 15 a opposite (Y1 side) to the extensionportion 15 b. The extension portion 15 b has a bent portion 15 e that isbent.

The rear housing 12 made of resin is provided with a plurality of(twelve in this embodiment) boss portions 12 c protruding forward (alongarrow Z1) from the back surface portion 12 a along the outer edge(directions X and Y) of the back surface portion 12 a, as shown in FIG.2. Each of the boss portions 12 c is formed with a screw hole 12 d (seeFIG. 3), described later, for a screw member 92 to be screwed into.

The frame member 13 (short-side frame portion 13 a) and the bezel member14 made of metal are configured as described above, whereby the edge 20a corresponding to the short-side portion 20 b of the liquid crystalpanel 20 is held by the following structure according to thisembodiment.

Specifically, the frame member 13 is placed on the rear housing 12 in astate where the backlight portion 30 is mounted on the back surfaceportion 12 a of the rear housing 12 through the boss portions 12 b (seeFIG. 2), and the screw members 92 are screwed into the boss portions 12c in a state where the bezel member 14 is placed on the fixing portion13 d of the frame member 13 (short-side frame portion 13 a), whereby thebacklight portion 30 is held by the frame member 13 (short-side frameportion 13 a) from the Z1 side (front side), as shown in FIG. 3. Then,in a state where the bezel member 14 is mounted on the frame member 13(short-side frame portion 13 a) by the screw members 92, the liquidcrystal panel 20 is placed (arranged) on (the front side of) thesupporting portion 13 c of the frame member 13, and the front housing 11is fitted from the front side (Z1 side) toward the rear side (Z2 side)along arrow P, whereby the edge 20 a of the liquid crystal panel 20 issandwiched and held from the front side and the rear side (in adirection Z) by the front housing 11 and the frame member 13 (short-sideframe portion 13 a), as shown in FIG. 4.

The supporting portion 13 c is further formed with a rib 13 f protrudingforward from the supporting portion 13 c and a rib 13 g protrudingrearward from the supporting portion 13 c on a portion outside a portionsupporting the edge 20 a. Therefore, in a state where the liquid crystalpanel 20 is held by the front housing 11 and the frame member 13(short-side frame portion 13 a), a surface on the Z2 side of theextension portion 14 b of the bezel member 14 pushes the rib 13 f alongarrow Z2. Then, the supporting portion 13 c pushed along arrow Z2 by theextension portion 14 b pushes the light guide plate 34 along arrow Z2through the opposite rib 13 g. Thus, the light guide plate 34 isproperly arranged on the radiator plate (heat sink) 33 through thespacer member 37, and the positional relationship between the lightguide plate 34 and the LED substrate 32 (LEDs 31) is accuratelymaintained. The inner surface 11 f of the frame portion 11 c of thefront housing 11 is formed with a rib 11 g protruding rearward (to theinside of the apparatus body 10). Thus, in the state where the liquidcrystal panel 20 is held by the front housing 11 and the frame member 13(short-side frame portion 13 a), the rib 11 g comes into contact with asurface on the Z1 side of the extension portion 14 b of the bezel member14 from the front side toward the rear side. The rib 11 g and the rib 13f are arranged to be opposed to each other. Thus, the backlash of theextension portion 14 b pushing the rib 13 f is suppressed. The rib 13 fis an example of the “supporting member side contact portion” in thepresent invention. The rib 11 g is an example of the “front housing sidecontact portion” in the present invention.

According to this embodiment, the inner surface 11 f (portion opposed tothe edge 20 a) of the frame portion 11 c of the front housing 11 ismounted with a cushion member 16 made of an elastically deformablematerial. Another cushion member 17 made of the same material as thecushion member 16 is provided on the supporting portion 13 c of theframe member 13 (short-side frame portion 13 a). Thus, the edge 20 acorresponding to the short-side portion 20 b of the liquid crystal panel20 is pushed by the frame portion 11 c of the front housing 11 throughthe cushion member 16 on the side of the short-side portion 20 b of theliquid crystal panel 20, and the rear side (Z2 side) of the liquidcrystal panel 20 corresponding to a position pushed by the frame portion11 c is supported by the frame member 13 (the supporting portion 13 cprovided on the short-side frame portion 13 a) through the cushionmember 17, whereby the liquid crystal panel 20 is held by the fronthousing 11 and the frame member 13. The cushion member 16 is an exampleof the “first elastic member” in the present invention. The cushionmember 17 is an example of the “second elastic member” in the presentinvention.

Although the sectional structure on the right side (X2 side) in the casewhere the apparatus body 10 (see FIG. 1) is viewed from the front sideis described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 5 shows thesectional structure on the left side (X1 side) in the case where theapparatus body 10 is viewed from the front side. As shown in FIG. 5, theFPC 40 connected to the liquid crystal cell 21 of the liquid crystalpanel 20 passes through the frame member 13 (short-side frame portion 13a) rearward and is connected to the control board portion 41 (theschematic outer shape is shown by a two-dot chain line). The controlboard portion 41 is arranged through the spacer member 37 in a spacebetween the reflective plate 35 (light guide plate 34) and the backsurface portion 12 a of the rear housing 12. In this case, animmediately following portion of the FPC 40 connected to the liquidcrystal cell 21 is covered with the extension portion 14 b of the bezelmember 14 from the front side (Z1 side). Thus, according to thisembodiment, electrostatic discharge (ESD) is shielded (protected) by theextension portion 14 b and hardly reaches the control board portion 41even when the electrostatic discharge is generated on the front side ofthe liquid crystal panel 20.

Thus, in the liquid crystal television apparatus 100, even in the casewhere the front housing 11 holds the liquid crystal panel 20 whilepushing the edge 20 a on the front side corresponding to the short-sideportions 20 b of the liquid crystal panel 20, the bezel members 14 madeof metal are fixed to the frame member 13 (short-side frame portions 13a), and hence the rigidity (the member strength of the short-side frameportions 13 a) of apparatus body 10 including the liquid crystal panel20 is maintained by the bezel members 14 made of metal, constituted bymembers different from the front housing 11. Therefore, the rigidity ofthe apparatus body 10 is ensured on the side of the frame member 13mounted with the bezel members 14, and hence the frame portion 11 c ofthe front housing 11 can hold the liquid crystal panel 20 while pushingthe edge 20 a of the liquid crystal panel 20. At this time, the frameportion 11 c pushes the edge 20 a, and hence the width W1 (see FIG. 1)of the frame portion 11 c can be reduced as much as possible within arange where the liquid crystal panel 20 can be reliably held. In otherwords, the liquid crystal television apparatus 100 is designed such thatthe outer transverse dimension W3 of the apparatus body 10 is reduced asmuch as possible while the transverse (long-side) dimension W2 of thedisplay area 20 d of the liquid crystal panel 20 is maximized, as shownin FIG. 1.

The frame member 13 (long-side frame portions 13 b) and the bezelmembers 15 made of metal are configured as described above, whereby theedge 20 a corresponding to the long-side portions 20 c of the liquidcrystal panel 20 is held by the following structure according to thisembodiment.

Specifically, in a state where the bezel member 15 is mounted on thefixing portion 13 d of the frame member 13 (long-side frame portion 13b) by the screw members 92, the edge 20 a corresponding to the long-sideportion 20 c of the liquid crystal panel 20 is pushed by the extensionportion 15 b of the bezel member 15, and the rear side (Z2 side) of theliquid crystal panel 20 corresponding to a position pushed by theextension portion 15 b of the bezel member 15 is supported by the framemember 13 (the supporting portion 13 c provided on the long-side frameportion 13 b), whereby the liquid crystal panel 20 is held by the fronthousing 11 and the frame member 13, as shown in FIG. 6.

The lower surface 15 f (portion opposed to the edge 20 a) of theextension portion 15 b of the bezel member 15 is mounted with a cushionmember 18 made of the same material as the cushion member 16. Thus, theedge 20 a corresponding to the long-side portion 20 c of the liquidcrystal panel 20 is pushed by the bezel member 15 through the cushionmember 18 on the side of the long-side portion 20 c of the liquidcrystal panel 20, and the rear side (Z2 side) of the liquid crystalpanel 20 corresponding to a position pushed by the extension portion 15b of the bezel member 15 is supported by the frame member 13 (thesupporting portion 13 c provided on the long-side frame portion 13 b),whereby the edge 20 a of the liquid crystal panel 20 is sandwiched andheld from the front side and the rear side (in the direction Z) by thebezel member 15 and the frame member 13 (long-side frame portion 13 b).

Although the sectional structure on the upper side (Y1 side) in the casewhere the apparatus body 10 is viewed from the front side is describedabove with reference to FIG. 6, the sectional structure on the lowerside (Y2 side) in the case where the apparatus body 10 is viewed fromthe front side is also substantially identical (vertically symmetrical).The ends of the bezel members 14 and 15 are connected (coupled) to eachother by unshown screw members, whereby the further rigidity is ensured.A single frame-shaped member formed by coupling the pair of bezelmembers 14 and the pair of bezel members 15 to each other is mounted onthe frame member 13 to surround the liquid crystal panel 20.

Thus, in the liquid crystal television apparatus 100, the front housing11 (frame portion 11 c) holds the liquid crystal panel 20 while pushingthe edge 20 a corresponding to the short-side portions 20 b (see FIG. 2)of the liquid crystal panel 20, and the bezel members 15 (extensionportions 15 b) hold the liquid crystal panel 20 while pushing the edge20 a corresponding to the long-side portions 20 c (see FIG. 2) of theliquid crystal panel 20. Thus, the width of the frame portion 11 c onthe sides (right and left sides) of the short-side portions 20 b in theapparatus body 10 can be reduced (width W1 is further reduced), thestrength of the frame member 13 (long-side frame portions 13 b) in adirection along the long-side portions 20 c can be easily maintained bythe bezel members 15 made of metal on the sides (upper and lower sides)of the long-side portions 20 c requiring strength larger than that ofthe short-side portions 20 b, and the bezel members 15 can hold theliquid crystal panel 20 while pushing the edge 20 a corresponding to thelong-side portions 20 c of the liquid crystal panel 20. Therefore, alsowith respect to the liquid crystal television apparatus 100 includingthe horizontally long liquid crystal panel 20, as shown in FIG. 1, thestrength of the apparatus body 10 is maintained, and the width of aframe is further reduced.

According to this embodiment, the bezel member 14 fixed to the fixingportion 13 d of the short-side frame portion 13 a is formed such thatthe extension portion 14 b extends along arrow X1 from the fixed portion14 a up to the vicinity of a region where the cushion member 16 isarranged, as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the extension portion 14 bhas such a shape that the extension portion 14 b is bent from theposition of the fixed portion 14 a and extends obliquely forward andthereafter is bent again and extends along arrow X1. In other words, thebezel member 14 is provided with not only the flat fixed portion 14 abut also the extension portion 14 b having the bent portion 14 e that isbent, and hence the bezel member 14 arranged inside the front housing 11is formed to have larger rigidity (member strength).

As shown in FIG. 6, the bezel member 15 fixed to the fixing portion 13 dof the long-side frame portion 13 b is formed such that the extensionportion 15 b is bent and extends along arrow X1 from the fixed portion15 a. In this case, the extension portion 15 b is formed such that thetip thereof reaches the edge 20 a corresponding to the long-side portion20 c of the liquid crystal panel 20. The aforementioned cushion member18 is mounted on a portion of the extension portion 15 b opposed to theedge 20 a. Thus, the bezel member 15 is provided with not only the fixedportion 15 a but also the extension portion 15 b having the bent portion15 e that is bent, and hence the bezel member 15 arranged inside thefront housing 11 is formed to have larger rigidity (member strength). Inthis manner, the liquid crystal television apparatus 100 is configured.

According to this embodiment, as hereinabove described, the liquidcrystal television apparatus 100 includes the front housing (frontcabinet) 11 holding the liquid crystal panel 20 while pushing the edge20 a on the front side (Z1 side) corresponding to the short-sideportions 20 b of the liquid crystal panel 20 and the bezel members 14made of metal, fixed to the inside of the front housing 11 by the screwmembers 92, whereby the rigidity (member strength) of the apparatus body10 including the liquid crystal panel 20 can be maintained by the bezelmembers 14 made of metal, constituted by the members different from thefront housing 11 even in the case where the front housing 11 holds theliquid crystal panel 20 while pushing the edge 20 a corresponding to theshort-side portions 20 b of the liquid crystal panel 20. In other words,the rigidity of the apparatus body 10 is maintained by the bezel members14, and hence the liquid crystal panel 20 can be held even in a state ofensuring the display area 20 d of the liquid crystal panel 20 as wide aspossible. Thus, the width of the frame can be further reduced while therigidity of the apparatus body 10 is ensured.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal television apparatus100 includes the frame member 13 (mold frame) configured to be capableof supporting the rear side (Z2 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20inside the front housing 11, and the liquid crystal panel 20 issandwiched and held by the front housing 11 and the frame member 13(short-side frame portions 13 a) in the state where the bezel members 14are mounted on the frame member 13 by the screw members 92. Thus, thebezel members 14 are mounted on the frame member 13 (short-side frameportions 13 a) supporting the liquid crystal panel 20 from the rear side(Z2 side) in the case where the edge 20 a on the front side (Z1 side) ofthe liquid crystal panel 20 is pushed, and hence the rigidity of theframe member 13 (short-side frame portions 13 a) can be easily improved.Therefore, the rigidity of the apparatus body 10 in the liquid crystaltelevision apparatus 100 having the liquid crystal panel 20 sandwichedand held by the front housing 11 and the frame member 13 can be easilyensured.

According to this embodiment, the front housing 11 includes the frameportion 11 c formed in a frame shape without covering the display area20 d of the liquid crystal panel 20, and the edge 20 a on the front side(Z1 side) corresponding to the short-side portions 20 b of the liquidcrystal panel 20 is pushed by the frame portion 11 c and the rear side(Z2 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20 corresponding to the positionspushed by the frame portion 11 c is supported by the frame member 13 inthe state where the bezel members 14 are mounted on the frame member 13(short-side frame portions 13 a), so that the liquid crystal panel 20 isheld by the front housing 11 and the frame member 13. Thus, even in thecase where the frame portion 11 c of the front housing 11 formed in theframe shape holds the liquid crystal panel 20 while pushing the edge 20a corresponding to the short-side portions 20 b of the liquid crystalpanel 20, the rigidity of the apparatus body 10 is easily ensured by thebezel members 14, and hence the width W1 (the width W1 in a directionorthogonal to the extensional direction of the frame portion 11 c) ofthe frame portion 11 c is reduced as much as possible, whereby areduction in the width of the frame can be easily realized.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 20 is formed tohave the rectangular shape by the pair of short-side portions 20 bextending in the longitudinal direction (direction Y) and the pair oflong-side portions 20 c extending in the transverse direction (directionX), and the bezel members 14 are mounted on portions of the frame member13 supporting the rear side (Z2 side) at positions corresponding to theshort-side portions 20 b of the liquid crystal panel 20. Furthermore,the edge 20 a corresponding to the short-side portions 20 b of theliquid crystal panel 20 is pushed by the frame portion 11 c of the fronthousing 11 and the rear side (Z2 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20corresponding to the positions pushed by the frame portion 11 c issupported by the frame member 13 (short-side frame portions 13 a), sothat the liquid crystal panel 20 is held by the front housing 11 and theframe member 13. Thus, in the liquid crystal television apparatus 100including the horizontally long (rectangular) liquid crystal panel 20extending in the direction X, the width of the frame on the sides of theshort-side portions 20 b (both sides in the transverse direction) (thewidth W1 of the frame portion 11 c) can be reduced while the rigidity ofthe apparatus body 10 is ensured. Therefore, the outer transversedimension W3 (see FIG. 1) of the apparatus body 10 can be reduced asmuch as possible while the transverse (long-side) dimension W2 (seeFIG. 1) of the display area 20 d in the liquid crystal panel 20 ismaximized.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal television apparatus100 further includes the cushion members 16 arranged between the frameportion 11 c of the front housing 11 and the edge 20 a on the front side(Z1 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20, and the bezel members 14 aremounted on the frame member 13 (short-side frame portions 13 a) in aregion opposed to the frame member 13 inside the front housing 11 andoutside (X2 side) the edge 20 a on the front side (Z1 side) of theliquid crystal panel 20. Furthermore, the cushion members 16 are pushedby the frame portion 11 c of the front housing 11 and come into contactwith the edge 20 a on the front side (Z1 side) corresponding to theshort-side portions 20 b of the liquid crystal panel 20, so that theliquid crystal panel 20 is held. Thus, the cushion members 16 aredeformed due to the pushing force of the frame portion 11 c and comeinto close contact with the edge 20 a on the front side (Z1 side) of theliquid crystal panel 20 in a state where the frame portion 11 c formedin the frame shape holds the liquid crystal panel 20, and hence theregion opposed to the frame member 13 (short-side frame portions 13 a)inside the front housing 11 is shielded by a surface of the liquidcrystal panel 20 and the cushion members 16 and is not visible from thefront side (Z1 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20. In other words, thebezel members 14 mounted on the frame member 13 in the region opposed tothe frame member 13 inside the front housing 11 are not visible from thefront side (Z1 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20, and entry ofextraneous material from the front side can be suppressed. Furthermore,the bezel members 14 are not visible from the front side (Z1 side), andhence a reduction in the appearance quality of the liquid crystaltelevision apparatus 100 can be suppressed.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal television apparatus100 further includes the cushion member 17 arranged between the framemember 13 and the rear side (Z2 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20corresponding to the positions pushed by the frame portion 11 c, and therear side of the liquid crystal panel 20 corresponding to the positionspushed by the frame portion 11 c is supported by the frame member 13through the cushion member 17, so that the liquid crystal panel 20 isheld. Thus, the front side (Z1 side) and the rear side (Z2 side) of theliquid crystal panel 20 can be sandwiched and held by both the cushionmembers 16 and 17, and hence the liquid crystal panel 20 can be reliablyheld. Consequently, the positional displacement of the liquid crystalpanel 20 can be suppressed, and hence a situation where a user must viewan inclined display image resulting from the positional displacement ofthe liquid crystal panel 20 can be suppressed.

According to this embodiment, the bezel members 14 include the fixedportions 14 a coming into contact with the frame member 13 (short-sideframe portions 13 a), fixed to the frame member 13 and the extensionportions 14 b formed to extend along arrow X1 from the fixed portions 14a up to the vicinities of the regions where the cushion members 16 arearranged. Thus, the bezel members 14 are provided with not only thefixed portions 14 a but also the extension portions 14 b, and hence thebezel members 14 arranged inside the front housing 11 can be formed tohave larger rigidity (member strength). Furthermore, the extensionportions 14 b provided on the bezel members 14 are formed to extend upto the vicinities of the regions where the cushion members 16 arearranged, and hence external force (impulsive force) can be absorbed byfurther deformation of the cushion members 16 even in the case where thecushion members 16 are deformed due to the pushing force of the frameportion 11 c or sudden external force and come into contact with theextension portions 14 b of the bezel members 14. Thus, application ofthe sudden external force (impulsive force) to the bezel members 14 issuppressed, and hence distortion of the apparatus body 10 can besuppressed.

According to this embodiment, the bezel members 14 and the frame member13 have the through-holes 14 c and the through-holes 13 e provided tofasten the bezel members 14 and the frame member 13 to each other by thescrew members 92. Thus, the bezel members 14 and the frame member 13 canbe fastened together by the screw members 92, and hence the bezelmembers 14 can be reliably mounted on the frame member 13. Consequently,the rigidity (member strength) of the frame member 13 can be reliablyimproved.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal television apparatus100 further includes the rear housing 12, and the bezel members 14 andthe frame member 13 are configured to be fastened to the rear housing 12by the screw members 92 through the through-holes 14 c and thethrough-holes 13 e, respectively. Thus, the bezel members 14, the framemember 13, and the rear housing 12 can be strongly fixed by the screwmembers 92, and hence the rigidity of the apparatus body 10 can beeasily ensured.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal television apparatus100 further includes the bezel members 15 made of metal, arranged insidethe front housing 11. Furthermore, the edge 20 a on the front side (Z1side) corresponding to the short-side portions 20 b of the liquidcrystal panel 20 is pushed by the front housing 11 and the edge 20 acorresponding to the long-side portions 20 c of the liquid crystal panel20 is pushed by the extension portions 15 b of the bezel members 15, sothat the liquid crystal panel 20 is held by the front housing 11 and thebezel members 15. Thus, the width of the frame along the edge 20 acorresponding to the short-side portions 20 b of the liquid crystalpanel 20 held by the front housing 11 can be actively reduced, and thebezel members 15 can push the edge 20 a corresponding to the long-sideportions 20 c of the liquid crystal panel 20 and hold the liquid crystalpanel 20 while the rigidity of the edge 20 a corresponding to thelong-side portions 20 c requiring larger rigidity in the apparatus body10 is ensured by the bezel members 15. Therefore, the liquid crystaltelevision apparatus 100 in which the width of the frame is activelyreduced and the rigidity of the apparatus body 10 is reliably ensuredcan be obtained.

According to this embodiment, the bezel members 14 and the bezel members15 are coupled to each other to form a frame-shaped bezel member. Thus,the bezel members 14 and the bezel members 15 are coupled to each otheras the single frame-shaped bezel member, and hence the rigidity of thebezel member constituted by the coupled bezel members 14 and 15 can befurther improved, unlike the case where the bezel members 14 and bezelmembers 15 are not coupled but mounted separately. Consequently, therigidity of the apparatus body 10 can be more reliably ensured, and thewidth of the frame can be more actively reduced.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 20 is formed tohave the rectangular shape by the pair of short-side portions 20 bextending in the longitudinal direction (direction Y) and the pair oflong-side portions 20 c extending in the transverse direction (directionX). Furthermore, the pair of bezel members 14 are provided, and each ofthe pair of bezel members 14 is arranged at a position corresponding toeach of the short-side portions 20 b of the liquid crystal panel 20. Inaddition, the pair of bezel members 15 are provided, and each of thepair of bezel members 15 is arranged at a position corresponding to eachof the long-side portions 20 c of the liquid crystal panel 20. Moreover,the pair of bezel members 14 and the pair of bezel members 15 form theframe-shaped bezel member surrounding the liquid crystal panel 20. Thus,the pair of bezel members 14 and the pair of bezel members 15 form theframe-shaped member surrounding the liquid crystal panel 20 incorrespondence to the liquid crystal panel 20 having the rectangularshape, whereby the edge 20 a of the liquid crystal panel 20 can bereliably pushed while the rigidity of the bezel member is furtherimproved.

According to this embodiment, the bezel members 14 include the fixedportions 14 a coming into contact with the frame member 13, fixed to theframe member 13 and the extension portions 14 b having the bent portions14 e that are bent, extending from the fixed portions 14 a toward theedge 20 a of the liquid crystal panel 20 pushed by the front housing 11.Thus, the extension portions 14 b have the bent portions 14 e that arebent, whereby the rigidity (member strength) of the bezel members 14 canbe further improved, unlike the case where the extension portions 14 bare flatly formed.

According to this embodiment, the bezel members 14 further include theside surface portions 14 d extending from the outer edge of the fixedportions 14 a opposite to the extension portions 14 b along a direction(along arrow Z2) from the front side (Z1 side) of the liquid crystalpanel 20 toward the rear side (Z2 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20.Thus, the bezel members 14 are provided with the side surface portions14 d in addition to the extension portions 14 b having the bent portions14 e, whereby the rigidity (member strength) of the bezel members 14 canbe further improved.

According to this embodiment, the liquid crystal television apparatus100 further includes the FPC 40 configured to connect the liquid crystalpanel 20 to the control board portion 41. Furthermore, the extensionportion 14 b of the bezel member 14 is formed such that at least a partof the extension portion 14 b covers the FPC 40 (the immediatelyfollowing portion of the FPC 40 connected to the liquid crystal cell21). Thus, the FPC 40 can be protected by the extension portion 14 b ofthe bezel member 14 made of metal when the electrostatic discharge isgenerated, and hence malfunction or damage of the FPC 40 and the controlboard portion 41 connected to the FPC 40 resulting from theelectrostatic discharge can be suppressed.

According to this embodiment, the extension portion 14 b of the bezelmember 14 is arranged to cover the FPC 40 from the front side (Z1 side)of the liquid crystal panel 20. Thus, the FPC 40 can be protected by theextension portion 14 b of the bezel member 14 made of metal on the frontside (Z1 side) of the liquid crystal panel 20 where the electrostaticdischarge is easily generated, and hence malfunction or damage of theFPC 40 and the control board portion 41 connected to the FPC 40resulting from the electrostatic discharge can be reliably suppressed.

According to this embodiment, the frame member 13 is formed with the rib13 f protruding toward the liquid crystal panel 20 (Z1 side), cominginto contact with the bezel member 14. Thus, the rib 13 f coming intocontact with the bezel member 14 can suppress the movement of the bezelmember 14, and hence backlash of the bezel member 14 can be suppressed.

According to this embodiment, the front housing 11 is formed with therib 11 g protruding inward (to the Z2 side) from the inner surface 11 fof the front housing 11, coming into contact with a surface of the bezelmember 14 opposite to a surface of the bezel member 14 coming intocontact with the rib 13 f, and the rib 13 f and the rib 11 g arearranged to be opposed to each other. Thus, the bezel member 14 can besandwiched by the rib 13 f and the rib 11 g from both sides, and hencethe movement of the bezel member 14 can be more reliably suppressed.Thus, backlash of the bezel member 14 can be further suppressed.

According to this embodiment, the front housing 11 and the frame member13 are made of resin. Thus, the front housing 11 and the frame member 13can be easily molded, and the weight of the apparatus body 10 can bereduced as compared with the case where the front housing is made ofmetal. In the case where the front housing 11 is made of resin, it ismore difficult to reduce the width of the frame while the rigidity isensured, unlike the case where the front housing 11 is made of metal. Inthis case, the bezel members 14 made of metal are provided, whereby thewidth of the frame can be reduced while the rigidity of the apparatusbody 10 is ensured, and hence the present invention is particularlyeffective.

(First Modification)

A first modification is now described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and7. In this first modification, a bezel member 114 having a portionfolded at about 90 degrees in an end region of an extension portion 114b is mounted on a frame member 13 (short-side frame portion 13 a), asshown in FIG. 7. The bezel member 114 is an example of the “first bezelmember” in the present invention. In the figure, a structure similar tothat of the liquid crystal television apparatus 100 according to theaforementioned embodiment is denoted by the same reference numerals.

In a liquid crystal television apparatus 110 according to the firstmodification of the present invention, the bezel member 114 fixed to afixing portion 13 d of the short-side frame portion 13 a is formed suchthat the extension portion 114 b extends from a fixed portion 14 a up tothe vicinity of a region where a cushion member 16 is arranged alongarrow X1, as shown in FIG. 7. The extension portion 114 b has a bentportion 114 d folded at about 90 degrees from an X1 side to a Z1 side(front side) before the cushion member 16 and an end 114 c slightlyextending toward a frame portion 11 c. Therefore, the bezel member 114is folded in the middle of the extension portion 114 b, and hence therigidity of the extension portion 114 b is further improved. Theextension portion 114 b linearly extends along arrow X1 from the fixedportion 14 a and thereafter is bent to the Z1 side. Therefore, a rib 111g of a front housing 11 pushing a portion of the extension portion 114 bextending along arrow X1 is configured such that the protrusion lengththereof along arrow Z2 is longer than that of the rib 11 g (see FIG. 4)according to the aforementioned embodiment. In contrast, a rib 113 f ofthe frame member 13 (short-side frame portion 13 a) is configured suchthat the protrusion length along arrow Z1 is shorter than that of therib 13 f (see FIG. 4) according to the aforementioned embodiment.

The bezel member 114 shown in FIG. 7 is provided on the back side of theframe portion 11 c on the right and left sides when an apparatus body 10(see FIG. 1) is viewed from the front side. The remaining structure ofthe liquid crystal television apparatus 110 (see FIG. 1) according tothe first modification is similar to that of the liquid crystaltelevision apparatus 100 according to the aforementioned embodiment.

According to the first modification, as hereinabove described, the bentportion 114 d of the extension portion 114 b of the bezel member 114 isformed by being folded at about 90 degrees in the vicinity of thecushion member 16. Thus, the bent portion 114 d of the extension portion114 b is folded, whereby not only the rigidity of the extension portion114 b but also the rigidity (member strength) of the entire bezel member114 can be further improved. Therefore, the bezel member 114 can beformed with less metal material in the case where the bezel member 114is formed to ensure rigidity equivalent to that of the bezel member 14(see FIG. 4) according to the aforementioned embodiment, for example,and hence the weight (thickness) of the bezel member 114 can be reduced.The remaining effects of the first modification are similar to those ofthe aforementioned embodiment.

(Second Modification)

A second modification is now described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and8. In this second modification, a bezel member 124 having a portion onwhich hemming is performed in the middle of an extension portion 124 bis mounted on a frame member 13 (short-side frame portion 13 a), asshown in FIG. 8. The bezel member 124 is an example of the “first bezelmember” in the present invention. In the figure, a structure similar tothat of the liquid crystal television apparatus 100 according to theaforementioned embodiment is denoted by the same reference numerals.

In a liquid crystal television apparatus 120 according to the secondmodification of the present invention, the bezel member 124 fixed to afixing portion 13 d of the short-side frame portion 13 a is formed suchthat the extension portion 124 b extends along arrow X1 from a fixedportion 14 a to stop short of a region where a cushion member 16 isarranged, as shown in FIG. 8. The extension portion 124 b is providedwith a bent portion 124 c folded at about 180 degrees from an X1 side toan X2 side (in an opposite direction) before a cushion member 16, onwhich hemming is performed. Therefore, the bezel member 124 is providedwith the bent portion 124 c on which hemming is performed on theextension portion 124 b, and hence the rigidity of the extension portion124 b is further improved. The bezel member 124 shown in FIG. 8 isprovided on the back side of a frame portion 11 c on the right and leftsides when an apparatus body 10 (see FIG. 1) is viewed from the frontside. The remaining structure of the liquid crystal television apparatus120 according to the second modification is similar to that of theliquid crystal television apparatus 100 according to the aforementionedembodiment.

According to the second modification, as hereinabove described, the bentportion 124 c of the extension portion 124 b of the bezel member 124 isformed by hemming in the vicinity of the cushion member 16. Thus, thebent portion 124 c of the extension portion 124 b is formed by hemming,whereby not only the rigidity of the extension portion 124 b but alsothe rigidity (member strength) of the entire bezel member 124 can befurther improved. Therefore, the bezel member 124 can be formed withless metal material in the case where the bezel member 124 is formed toensure rigidity equivalent to that of the bezel member 14 (see FIG. 4)according to the aforementioned embodiment, for example, and hence theweight (thickness) of the bezel member 124 can be reduced. The remainingeffects of the second modification are similar to those of theaforementioned embodiment.

The embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative inall points and not restrictive. The range of the present invention isshown not by the above description of the embodiment but by the scope ofclaims for patent, and all modifications within the meaning and rangeequivalent to the scope of claims for patent are further included.

For example, while the present invention is applied to the liquidcrystal television apparatus 100, 110, or 120 as the example of thedisplay device in each of the aforementioned embodiment and theaforementioned first and second modifications of the embodiment, thepresent invention is not restricted to this. The present invention isalso applicable to another display device, such as a display monitor ofa personal computer, other than the liquid crystal television apparatus,for example.

While the bezel members 14 (114, 124) are provided only on the back sideof the frame portion 11 c corresponding to the short-side portions 20 bon the right and left sides when the apparatus body 10 is viewed fromthe front side and the bezel members 15 are provided on the back side ofthe frame portion 11 c corresponding to the long-side portions 20 c onthe upper and lower sides when the apparatus body 10 is viewed from thefront side in each of the aforementioned embodiment and theaforementioned first and second modifications of the embodiment, thepresent invention is not restricted to this. For example, the apparatusbody may alternatively be configured such that the bezel members 14(114, 124) are arranged not only on the back side of the frame portion11 c corresponding to the short-side portions 20 b on the right and leftsides but also on the back side of the frame portion 11 c correspondingto the long-side portions 20 c on the upper and lower sides. In otherwords, the frame portion 11 c of the front housing 11 may alternativelyhold the liquid crystal panel 20 while pushing the edge 20 a of theliquid crystal panel 20 over the entire circumference. In this case, theframe member 13 is mounted with the bezel members 14 over the entirecircumference (in the directions X and Y). Thus, the width (the widthW1) in a horizontal direction as well as the width in a verticaldirection of the frame of the apparatus body 10 can be reduced while therigidity of the apparatus body 10 is ensured. Furthermore, a reductionin the width of the frame over the entire circumference of the edge 20 ain the liquid crystal panel 20 is effective particularly with respect toa small-sized liquid crystal display device.

While the extension portions 14 b (114 b, 124 b, 15 b) of the bezelmembers 14 (114, 124, 15) push the supporting portion 13 c of the framemember 13 rearward to hold the light guide plate 34 in each of theaforementioned embodiment and the aforementioned first and secondmodifications of the embodiment, the present invention is not restrictedto this. According to the present invention, the bezel members 14 (114,124, 15) may not push the frame member 13 rearward with providing no rib13 f (113 f) on the frame member 13.

The bezel members 14 and the bezel members 15 configured as differentmembers in each of the aforementioned embodiment and the aforementionedfirst and second modifications of the embodiment are coupled to eachother, whereby the “first bezel member” according to the presentinvention may alternatively be configured as one frame-shaped member.

While the present invention is applied to the structure of holding theliquid crystal panel 20 having the liquid crystal cell 21 in each of theaforementioned embodiment and the aforementioned first and secondmodifications of the embodiment, the present invention is not restrictedto this. The present invention may alternatively be applied to a displaydevice including a plasma display panel, an organic EL panel, or thelike other than the liquid crystal panel.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display portion; alight source; a front cover arranged frontward of the display portion;and a supporting portion that comes into contact with a vicinity of anend of a surface of the display portion opposite to a display surfacethrough a first elastic portion, wherein the supporting portion includesa first protrusion portion that protrudes from a surface on which thefirst elastic portion is arranged toward the display portion, and thefirst protrusion portion is located in a position closer to a center ofthe display portion than a position in which the first elastic portioncomes into contact with the display portion.
 2. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a height of the first protrusion portionis lower than a height of the first elastic portion.
 3. The displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion portion islocated to face the surface of the display portion opposite to thedisplay surface.
 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay portion has a rectangular shape, and the first elastic portionextends along a side of the display portion.
 5. The display deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein in a direction parallel to the displaysurface and perpendicular to a direction in which the first elasticportion extends, a width of the first protrusion portion is smaller thana width of the first elastic portion.
 6. The display device according toclaim 1, wherein the first protrusion portion and the first elasticportion come into contact with each other.
 7. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the supporting portion includes a surfaceinclined with respect to the display surface in a surface opposite tothe surface on which the first elastic portion is arranged.
 8. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the front cover comes intocontact with a vicinity of an end of the display surface through asecond elastic portion.
 9. The display device according to claim 8,wherein the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion faceeach other through the display portion.
 10. The display device accordingto claim 8, wherein in a direction perpendicular to the display surface,a width of the first elastic portion is smaller than a width of thesecond elastic portion.
 11. The display device according to claim 1,further comprising a light guide plate arranged backward of the displayportion, wherein the light source is arranged in a vicinity of an end ofthe light guide plate.
 12. The display device according to claim 11,wherein the supporting portion includes a second protrusion portion thatprotrudes from a surface opposite to the surface on which the firstelastic portion is arranged, and the second protrusion portion comesinto contact with the light guide plate.
 13. The display deviceaccording to claim 12, further comprising an optical portion arranged ona surface of the light guide plate with which the second protrusionportion comes into contact, wherein an end of the optical portion isarranged between the surface of the supporting portion opposite to thesurface on which the first elastic portion is arranged and the lightguide plate.
 14. The display device according to claim 13, wherein in adirection perpendicular to the display surface, a width of the secondprotrusion portion is larger than a width of the optical portion. 15.The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first elasticportion includes a first contact surface that comes into surface contactwith the display portion, and the first contact surface is partiallyseparated from the display portion.
 16. The display device according toclaim 8, wherein the second elastic portion includes a second contactsurface that comes into surface contact with the display portion, andthe second contact surface is partially separated from the displayportion.
 17. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the frontcover includes a third protrusion portion that protrudes from a surfaceof the front cover on which the second elastic portion is arrangedtoward the display portion and faces the display surface.
 18. Thedisplay device according to claim 17, wherein the third protrusionportion and the second elastic portion come into contact with eachother.
 19. The display device according to claim 18, wherein the firstprotrusion portion and the first elastic portion come into contact witheach other, and in a direction perpendicular to the display surface, acontact length of the third protrusion portion and the second elasticportion is longer than a contact length of the first protrusion portionand the first elastic portion.
 20. The display device according to claim8, wherein the display portion has a rectangular shape, and the secondelastic portion extends along a short side of the display portion.